Positioning structure for a rotatable hinge

ABSTRACT

A rotatable hinge includes a fixed frame provided to be adapted for engagement with a laptop computer base and a rotatable portion rotatable relative to the fixed frame and provided to be adapted for engagement with a laptop computer screen. The fixed frame is composed of a circular wall and a connection base integrally formed with the circular wall. The rotation portion has an extension extending from a bottom of the sleeve to be received in a through hole defined in the circular wall so that the rotation portion is able to be rotatable relative to the fixed portion. The extension has a flange formed thereon and a sectorial block formed on an outer periphery of the flange. The circular wall has a limiting boss formed on a peripheral edge thereof to be selectively connected to the sectorial block so as to limit the rotational movement of the rotation portion relative to the fixed frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a positioning structure, and moreparticularly to positioning structure for a rotatable hinge so that whenthe cover is rotated relative to the base, the positioning structure isable to help position the cover relative to the base to prevent damageto both the cover and the base resulting from excessive rotation.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A hinge is provided to allow two objects to pivot relative to oneanother. The most application field is in the laptop computers. A laptopcomputer has a screen and a base connected to the screen via the hinges.Therefore, the hinge provides a friction force to the screen when thescreen is detached from the base so as to hold the screen in position.When requirements from users to the laptop computers increase, aconventional hinge which provides only the friction to the screen cannotsatisfy the user. Therefore, an improved hinge is developed to themarket to provide a rotation ability to allow the screen to rotatehorizontally relative to the base. As a result of the screen beingrotatable relative to the base, the user is able to rotate the screen toallow the viewers at positions different from that of the user to seethe information without moving the entire laptop computer.

However, when this type of hinge is in application, the screen or thebase may be easily damaged due to excessive rotation of the screenrelative to the base.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide animproved positioning structure to mitigate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide apositioning structure for the rotatable hinge so that damage to thescreen or the base resulted from excessive rotation of the screenrelative to the base is decreased.

In order to accomplish the foregoing objective, the rotatable hingeincludes a rotatable portion adapted for engagement with a screen of alaptop computer and a fixed frame adapted for engagement with a base ofthe laptop computer. The rotation portion is provided with a firstwasher and a second washer securely mounted around an extensionextending from a bottom of the rotation portion. The fixed frame isprovided with a third washer firmly mounted on the fixed frame andhaving two cutouts defined in an inner periphery defining the throughhole of the third through hole of the third washer to correspond tobosses respectively formed on a bottom face of the first washer and atop face of the second washer such that when the bosses of the firstwasher and of the second washer are received in the cutouts of the thirdwasher, the rotation portion is positioned by the fixed frame.

In yet another objective of the present invention, the rotation portionis provided with a sectorial protrusion and the fixed frame has a stopsuch that when the rotation portion is rotated relative to the fixedframe, engagement between the sectorial protrusion and the stop limitthe rotation angle of the rotation portion to the fixed frame.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rotatable hinge of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the parts of therotatable hinge in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the parts of therotatable hinge in FIG. 1 from a different angle;

FIG. 3A is a schematic cross sectional view showing that the bosses arereceived in the cutout of the third washer;

FIG. 4 is an operational schematic view showing the rotation of therotation portion relative to the fixed frame;

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross sectional view showing that the bosses ofthe first washer and of the second washer are received in the cutout inthe third washer so as to position the rotation portion relative to thefixed frame;

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross sectional view showing that the bosses aremoved away from the cutout of the third washer; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a different embodiment of therotatable hinge of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, it is noted that the rotatable hinge inaccordance with the present invention includes a rotation portion (10)with two sleeves (11) extending from two opposite sides of the rotationportion (10), two securing devices (20) respectively and pivotallyconnected to the sleeves (11), a fixed frame (30), a first washer (50)mounted between the rotation portion (10) and the fixed frame (30) and astop (60) securely connected to the rotation portion (10) via securingelements (70). Furthermore, a second washer (50 a) is mounted betweenthe stop (60) and the fixed frame (30) and a third washer (40) ismounted between the fixed frame (30) and the first washer (50).

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, it is noted that the rotation portion(10) includes an extension (12) extending from a bottom of the rotationportion (10) and having positioning holes (121) defined in a bottom ofthe extension (12) and multiple elongated recesses (122) defined in anouter periphery of the extension (12). A flange (13) is integrallyformed between the rotation portion (10) and the extension (12) and hasa sectorial block (131) extending from a periphery of the flange (13).Details of how the securing devices (20) are connected to the sleeves(11) of the rotation portion (10) are conventional in the art andomitted hereinafter.

The fixed frame (30) is composed of a circular wall (31) and aconnection base (32) which is adapted for engagement with the base of alaptop computer and integrally formed with the circular wall (31). Thecircular wall (31) has a through hole (311) defined through the circularwall (31) and the connection base (32), multiple protrusions (312)formed on a top peripheral edge of the circular wall (31) and twolimiting bosses (313) formed on the top peripheral edge of the circularwall (31) to correspond to the sectorial block (131) of the rotationportion (10).

A first washer (50) is mounted between the rotation portion (10) and thefixed frame (30) and has a first through hole (51) defined therethroughand provided with fingers (511) formed on an inner face defining thefirst through hole (51) and two opposite first bosses (52) formed on abottom face of the first washer (50).

A second washer (50 a) is provided between the stop (60) and the firstwasher (50) and a second through hole (51 a), multiple second fingers(511 a) formed on an inner periphery defining the second through hole(51 a) and two opposite second bosses (52 a) formed on a bottom face ofthe second washer (50 a), which are the same as those of the firstwasher (50).

A third washer (40) is provided with a third through hole (41) having adiameter the same as those of the first washer (50) and the secondwasher (50 a), slits (42) defined in a periphery of the third washer(40) to correspond to the protrusions (312) of the circular wall (31) ofthe fixed frame (30) and two cutouts (43) oppositely defined in an innerperiphery defining the third through hole (41) of the third washer (40)to correspond to the two opposite first bosses (52) of the first washer(50) and the two opposite second bosses (52 a) of the second washer (50a).

The stop (60) includes a closed end and an open end. The stop furtherhas apertures (61) defined through the closed end to correspond to thepositioning holes (121) of the extension (12) of the rotation portion(10), a recess (62) defined in the stop (60) and multiple third fingers(621) defined in an inner periphery defining the recess (62).

When the rotation hinge of the present invention is assembled, it isnoted that the first washer (50) is mounted around the extension (12)with the first fingers (511) received in the elongated recesses (122) ofthe extension (12). The third washer (40) is securely mounted on theperipheral edge of the circular wall (31) via the protrusions (312)being riveted in the corresponding slits (42). Then after the extension(12) with the first washer (50) mounted therearound is extended throughthe through hole (311) of the fixed frame (30), the second washer (50 a)is mounted around the extension (12) with the second fingers (511 a)being received in the corresponding elongated recesses (122).Thereafter, the stop (60) is inserted into the through hole (311) toallow the securing elements (70), such as threaded bolts of rivets, toextend into the aligned apertures (61) of the stop (60) and thepositioning holes (121) of the extension (12) so as to secure engagementbetween the stop (60) and the extension (12).

It is noted that the stop (60) has an outer diameter the same as that ofthe second washer (50 a) and the first washer (50). Yet the outerdiameter of the first washer (50) is smaller than the outer diameter ofthe third washer (40) and bigger than an inner diameter of the thirdwasher (40) such that the first washer (50) is sandwiched between theflange (13) and the third washer (40) and the second washer (50 a) issandwiched between the third washer (40) and the stop (60).

Because the first washer (50), the third washer (50 a) and the stop (60)are securely connected to the extension (12) of the rotation portion(10) and the third washer (40) is firmly mounted on top of the circularwall (31) of the fixed frame (30), the rotation portion (10) is able torotate relative to the fixed frame (30).

With reference to FIG. 3, it is noted that when the securing devices(20) are provided to secure engagement with a laptop computer screen(80) and the fixed frame (30) is provided to secure engagement with alaptop computer base (90), the screen (80) is able to rotate relative tothe base (90).

In addition, with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, when the first bosses (52)of the first washer (50) and the second bosses (52 a) of the secondwasher (50 a) are received in the upper portion and the lower portion ofthe cutouts (43) of the third washer (40), a temporary positioningeffect is provided to the screen (80) relative to the base (90). At thesame time, a side of the sectorial block (131) is engaged with thelimiting boss (313) of the circular wall (31) to limit rotation angle ofthe rotation portion (10) to the fixed frame (30), as depicted in FIGS.2 and 3.

With reference to FIG. 7, it is noted that the third washer (40) may beprovided with a limiting section (44) formed from an outer periphery ofthe third washer (40) and having a securing hole (441) defined throughthe limiting section (44). The circular wall (31) may be provided withbars (314) formed on a top peripheral edge of the circular wall (31) anda pin (315) formed between two adjacent bars (314) of the circular wall(31). Therefore, when the third washer (40) is to be mounted on top ofthe circular wall (31), the limiting section (44) is sandwiched betweentwo adjacent bars (314) and the pin (315) is received and riveted in thesecuring hole (441) so as to firmly fix the third washer (40) on thefixed frame (30).

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerouscharacteristics and advantages of the present invention have been setforth in the foregoing description, together with details of thestructure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrativeonly, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape,size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention tothe full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms inwhich the appended claims are expressed.

1. In a rotatable hinge including a fixed frame provided to be adaptedfor engagement with a laptop computer base and a rotatable portionrotatable relative to the fixed frame and provided to be adapted forengagement with a laptop computer screen, the fixed frame being composedof a circular wall and a connection base integrally formed with thecircular wall and configured in such a way that the connection base isable to engage with the laptop computer base, the rotation portionhaving a sleeve, two securing devices respectively provided to twodifferent ends of the sleeve and an extension extending from a bottom ofthe sleeve to be received in a through hole defined in the circular wallso that the rotation portion is able to be rotatable relative to thefixed portion, wherein the improvements comprise: the extension having aflange formed thereon and a sectorial block formed on an outer peripheryof the flange, the circular wall having a limiting boss formed on aperipheral edge thereof to be selectively connected to the sectorialblock so as to limit the rotational movement of the rotation portionrelative to the fixed frame.
 2. The rotation hinge as claimed in claim1, wherein the extension further has a first washer and a second washersecurely mounted therearound, a third washer provided between the firstwasher and the second washer is firmly mounted on the peripheral edge ofthe circular wall so that the first washer and the second washer areable to rotate relative to the third washer.
 3. The rotation hinge asclaimed in claim 2, wherein the circular wall has protrusions formed onthe peripheral edge thereof and the third washer has slits defined tocorrespond to the protrusions such that the protrusions are able to bereceived and riveted in the slits to secure engagement between the thirdwasher and the circular wall.
 4. The rotation hinge as claimed in claim1, wherein the extension has elongated recesses defined in an outerperiphery thereof and the first washer has first fingers formed on aninner periphery defining a first through hole therethrough and thesecond washer has second fingers formed on an inner periphery defining asecond through hole thereof so that after the first washer and thesecond washer are mounted around the extension of the rotation portion,the first fingers and the second fingers are received in the elongatedrecesses to secure engagement among the first washer, the second washerand the extension.
 5. The rotation hinge as claimed in claim 2, whereinthe extension has elongated recesses defined in an outer peripherythereof and the first washer has first fingers formed on an innerperiphery defining a first through hole therethrough and the secondwasher has second fingers formed on an inner periphery defining a secondthrough hole thereof so that after the first washer and the secondwasher are mounted around the extension of the rotation portion, thefirst fingers and the second fingers are received in the elongatedrecesses to secure engagement among the first washer, the second washerand the extension.
 6. The rotation hinge as claimed in claim 3, whereinthe extension has elongated recesses defined in an outer peripherythereof and the first washer has first fingers formed on an innerperiphery defining a first through hole therethrough and the secondwasher has second fingers formed on an inner periphery defining a secondthrough hole thereof so that after the first washer and the secondwasher are mounted around the extension of the rotation portion, thefirst fingers and the second fingers are received in the elongatedrecesses to secure engagement among the first washer, the second washerand the extension.
 7. The rotation hinge as claimed in claim 6, whereinthe first washer has two oppositely formed first bosses formed on abottom thereof and the second washer has two oppositely formed secondbosses formed on a bottom thereof and the third washer has twooppositely defined cutouts defined in an inner periphery defining athird through hole thereof to correspond to and selectively receivetherein the first bosses and the second bosses so that a positioningeffect is provided to the rotation portion relative to the fixed frame.8. The rotation hinge as claimed in claim 2, wherein the circular wallhas bars formed on a peripheral edge thereof and a pin formed on twoadjacent bars, the third washer has a limiting section formed on anouter periphery thereof to be sandwiched between two adjacent bars and asecuring hole defined in the limiting section such that the pin is ableto be riveted in the securing hole to secure position of the thirdwasher relative to the fixed frame.
 9. The rotation hinge as claimed inclaim 4, wherein the circular wall has bars formed on a peripheral edgethereof and a pin formed on two adjacent bars, the third washer has alimiting section formed on an outer periphery thereof to be sandwichedbetween two adjacent bars and a securing hole defined in the limitingsection such that the pin is able to be riveted in the securing hole tosecure position of the third washer relative to the fixed frame.
 10. Therotation hinge as claimed in claim 5, wherein the circular wall has barsformed on a peripheral edge thereof and a pin formed on two adjacentbars, the third washer has a limiting section formed on an outerperiphery thereof to be sandwiched between two adjacent bars and asecuring hole defined in the limiting section such that the pin is ableto be riveted in the securing hole to secure position of the thirdwasher relative to the fixed frame.
 11. The rotation hinge as claimed inclaim 6, wherein the circular wall has bars formed on a peripheral edgethereof and a pin formed on two adjacent bars, the third washer has alimiting section formed on an outer periphery thereof to be sandwichedbetween two adjacent bars and a securing hole defined in the limitingsection such that the pin is able to be riveted in the securing hole tosecure position of the third washer relative to the fixed frame.
 12. Therotation hinge as claimed in claim 7, wherein the circular wall has barsformed on a peripheral edge thereof and a pin formed on two adjacentbars, the third washer has a limiting section formed on an outerperiphery thereof to be sandwiched between two adjacent bars and asecuring hole defined in the limiting section such that the pin is ableto be riveted in the securing hole to secure position of the thirdwasher relative to the fixed frame.